Chapter 25

Hellish maze

Sanji brought his sauce-wrapped finger to his mouth before freezing when the cream hit his tongue. He immediately lowered his hand and hurriedly rinsed it off, glancing at the swordsman who was busy laying out the first skewers on the galley table behind him. Zoro didn't seem to notice anything and the blond slowly resumed making his sauce.

After giving their snacks to his friends, Sanji didn't remember anything except seeing the Snake Princess on the Sunny. When he had come to his senses, the majority of the crew seemed as confused as he was and Jinbei and Zoro had explained what had happened, from the surprise attack they had suffered up to the confrontation between the pirate Kuja and the surgeon of death who had suddenly appeared.

The cook had been ecstatic at the idea that the most beautiful woman in the world possessed such power and by reflex, he had leaned over to see her while she was still chatting with Luffy on the beach. Immediately, he had started to petrify again and Zoro had pulled him back brutally to spare him the same fate as before. Chopper had joined them at that moment and he had informed the crew that the Heart captain was tending to his wound in the infirmary. The little reindeer had then examined his friends to check that the attack of the Snake Princess had left no after effects.

As soon as he was freed, Sanji had gone back to the galley, annoyed at the idea of not admiring their guest but aware that with each attempt, his body froze without him being able to do anything about it. He had then found his pieces of meat, most of them already cut, and some of the ingredients he had started to take out in anticipation of the sauces he intended to serve. This part was the trickiest and the blond couldn't help noticing Zoro's absence at that moment. He had understood that he would probably be alone to complete his preparations and he couldn't blame the swordsman who had already sacrificed a good part of his afternoon to literally hold his hand so that Sanji could grab a knife and do his job.

In spite of himself, Sanji hadn't been able to prevent himself from scanning this room he had always considered his territory, uneasy. The fencer had been a precious and unexpected help and the blond wished he was still here. It had been a matter of cutting up simple pieces of meat, but even this trivial act had frightened him and Sanji couldn't remember having ever been terrified by cooking, even when he had been laughed at because of his passion or when he had taken a beating during his apprenticeship.

After long minutes of inner struggle, he had finally taken the rest of his ingredients out and prepared the skewers which would be grilled without marinade. His hands had shaken a little but he had managed and when he couldn't back down, he had taken a deep breath to try to calm his heart beating too fast at the thought of making an ordinary barbecue sauce.

When he was no longer expecting him, Zoro had suddenly entered the galley and he had naturally gone to Sanji's side, asking him what he needed to do. Sanji had then shown him his recipes and the swordsman had tasted each step as they were prepared, helping the blond to ease his anxiety.

After a while, Sanji had relaxed a little and he had sent the swordsman to gather the first skewers on the table while he finished making the bearnaise sauce. He had wanted to increase the quantities in case the crew of the Kuja warriors would join them and as a result, his habit of tasting to check had reappeared. But he hadn't felt anything. No flavor, no aroma, not even the sharp taste of vinegar or the peculiar taste of tarragon on his tongue.

This rude awakening made him shiver and his hand froze around his fork. He forced himself not to stop any longer though and soon, the sound of cutlery against his bowl was heard again. He couldn't give in to the voice that had been telling him for days that he would never be the cook he had been anymore. That the only thing he had managed to do and of which he was proud of, he had lost it. His excellence had been a defense and an effective protection to preserve his inner fragility and Sanji knew he had relied entirely on his art to assert and build himself. He now had the awful feeling that he was no longer worth anything if he couldn't serve those he loved and fighting against this impression took all his energy.

Yet when he had been about to give up this part of himself, he had begged Zoro not to let him do it. Why? Had he let out a last cry of despair before disappearing helplessly or was it a real cry for help? Sanji didn't know himself. All he knew was that he had felt relieved when the swordsman hadn't pushed him away. Besides, the fencer seemed to have taken his request to heart since he was at his side today despite his previous coldness.

"What do we do now? I finished the skewers."

Sanji jumped as he remembered the presence of that same swordsman behind his back. He felt Zoro watching him and he looked down at his bowl before clearing his throat.

"Hm, I think we just need to check the balance of the wine vinegar with the tarragon…"

Understanding his implicit request, the fencer approached and seized the spoon on the worktop to dip it in the preparation of the cook before swallowing. After a second, he nodded.

"Not bad but I do prefer the tartar sauce."

"I know, but to each their own. You sure it's okay?"

"Yeah, it's not too tart and you can taste the herbs. That's what's important, right?"

"It is." Sanji wiped his hands on his dish towel, grateful to his crewmate. Zoro hadn't forgotten what the blond expected of him when he tasted the dishes despite the many days since their last collaboration and it warmed his heart despite himself.

"Is there any other stuff we need to do?" The swordsman went on, glancing around.

"Just the salad and the potatoes, that shouldn't be a problem."

"You sure?"

Sanji raised his head and fell on the fencer's inquisitive gaze whose intensity disturbed him without knowing why. Was it Zoro's concern for him or the fact that the swordsman doubted his abilities? Was Zoro trying to encourage him or did he think he wasn't going to be able to wash lettuce leaves or peel potatoes without collapsing? Did he think Sanji was too unstable to stay alone in the galley and do the simplest task properly? At the same time, given the blond's reaction in front of the meat, the fencer had a lot to be concerned about.

"Hey, you still here?"

Sanji snapped out of his thoughts and shrugged awkwardly.

"I'll be fine."

Instead of leaving, the swordsman continued to stare at him for a moment, as if undecided, and Sanji turned away to continue to stir his sauce. Still hesitant, the fencer finally made his way to the door and the blond bit his lip.

"I think I…" Zoro turned around and the cook looked down to avoid meeting his gaze, terribly embarrassed. "I think I'd need someone when it's cooking," he admitted, "The smell of grilling is a very good indication and Franky isn't really good when there's no cola…"

"I'll be there."

The blond nodded quickly before turning away to put away his ingredients and after a few seconds, he heard the door close behind his crewmate.

Luffy turned up in the infirmary after asking his cook when he could enjoy his skewers and because the blond had assured him that the first batch would be soon, he had naturally gone to his second guest.

A little earlier and despite her deep desire to spend the evening by his side, Hancock had told him that she was afraid of staying away from her island for too long. Her sisters had remained there and the Princess had increased the number of her warriors, but she knew Amazon Lily had become a popular destination. Some men believed that since her title of Warlord no longer protected the Empress, she couldn't prevent them from taking over her island and taking advantage of all those women who didn't know about men.

Fortunately, the Kuja Pirates were far from weak and so far, they had only come under manageable attacks. Yet the Snake Princess made a point of demonstrating her power in order to discourage as many attackers as possible and destroying them thanks to her power was a real source of satisfaction. Men disgusted her. They tried to seduce her all the time and wanted to take advantage of her people. She took great pleasure in crushing them more and more violently then.

Apart from Luffy, none of them found favor in her eyes and that's why she had rushed to find him when Margaret had told her he was on the island. Not taking the opportunity to see him was unforgivable and she was never happier than when she managed to hear from him, especially after the monumental battle he had faced in Wano. Yet she didn't forget her duty towards her people and it was with a heavy heart that she had told the straw hat boy that she couldn't prolong her stay any longer.

He had then offered to give her skewers so that she could eat on her ship on the way back and the Princess had collapsed under the weight of happiness and the attention the love of her life paid to her. Chopper had immediately panicked and the Empress was so focused on her feelings that she had let the little reindeer take care of her while she slowly came to her senses, languid on the deck among the rest of the crew.

"Are you healed?"

Law finished bandaging his thigh over his cut-up pants, frowning when the other captain sat cross-legged on the infirmary bed next to him.

"No healing is instantaneous, Straw Hat-ya," he replied as he kept his eyes fixed on his work.

Precisely positioning a new compress to protect his flesh, he then surrounded it with a large elastic bandage and Luffy observed him, fascinated. The little reindeer had offered to help but Law preferred to take care of himself and with all the medicines and instruments that the owner of the infirmary had left him, he had been able to clean and then treat his wound quickly thanks to his room.

After a few more moments, he moved his leg and was satisfied with his dressing. Each movement was still painful though and he noticed the glass of water placed on the desk of the other doctor next to which he had left several painkillers. Law got up carefully to approach it.

"Is Boa Hancock gone?" He asked next.

"Chopper's with her, she wasn't feeling well. I don't know what happened; I offered to give her some skewers because she couldn't stay and she fell!"

"You're naive, Straw Hat-ya. It's obvious that the Snake Princess particularly appreciates you and is very protective of you. Her attitude is a real mystery because I thought the Pirate Empress hated men, but I've seen her go against the Marines to protect you at Marineford, so it's no surprise."

"Yeah, Hancock is cool!"

"I don't see things that way, obviously," the doctor muttered, examining the boxes at his disposal. As he was choosing a medicine, he grabbed the glass of water and then turned back to the other captain. "By the way, why did you say that, Straw Hat-ya?"

"Say what?"

"That you enjoyed food more in my presence. Didn't you realize that would trigger her anger?"

Luffy raised an eyebrow. "I said it because it's true!"

Law paused, the glass halfway to his lips. "What are you talking about?"

"What?" Luffy blinked and the surgeon rolled his eyes as he leaned against the desk. "You just don't realize what you're saying," he noted. "This kind of remark is ambiguous. You have to be more careful or people could think you have feelings for the person to whom you are talking and that's exactly why Hancock got angry."

"Feelings?"

"Yes, feelings. Romantic feelings precisely."

"Oh that. So what?"

Law sighed then threw several capsules in his mouth before bringing his glass to his mouth. "So those feelings are very intense feelings that only apply when you're in love with someone. If you're not, you can't use such phrases."

"Oh, but I am! I'm in love with you, Torao!"

The surgeon choked on his mouthful of water and hurriedly put down his glass, panting. He then stared at the other captain still sitting on the bed and who was quietly looking at him, a sparkling smile on his face.

"Nami explained to me when I kissed you!" He added enthusiastically.

Law felt his eyes widen further. "You mean you knew what you were doing that day? I thought it was another crazy idea of yours!"

"Eh? No, I felt like it so I did but Nami told me I couldn't kiss you without asking your permission so I don't anymore… Hey, Torao, can I kiss you?!"

The surgeon tried to step back before remembering that the desk was already in his back and he tensed. "No, you can't!"

"Oh… But I swear I really love you!" Luffy insisted, jumping on his legs to get closer and better convince him, "I could even share my meat with you if we had nothing left to eat!"

Law stared at him for a few more seconds, stunned, before shaking his head. "I'm not staying here."

"Eh?"

"I'm going back to my submarine as I should have done a long time ago. Coming here was a mistake."

The former Warlord shoved past him to leave and Luffy turned to him, confused. "Wait, you haven't tasted Sanji's skewers yet!"

"I don't want to taste those skewers, Straw Hat-ya. Leave me alone."

Law left the infirmary and headed for the aft deck to reach the pier as quickly as possible without the rest of the crew noticing him.

"Torao!"

The doctor ignored the calls of the other captain who was running after him and he had already jumped on the pontoon when the straw hat boy caught up with him. Luffy grabbed his arm to hold him back but Law violently pushed him back. Luffy fell on his bottom and looked up in surprise. The surgeon glared at him.

"Why can't you understand when I talk to you?! I told you to leave me alone! We're not allies anymore and I don't wanna see you!"

The captain of the Heart Pirates continued on his way and the straw hat boy pouted while watching him walk away.

"I'm not sure he's ready, Luffy."

The captain raised his head towards his cook who was watching him from the aft deck of the Sunny and Sanji immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, I wanted to let you know that the first skewers have started cooking and I couldn't help but hear you."

Luffy nodded then stood up before joining him, crossing his arms over his chest sulkily. "I don't understand why he doesn't wanna come."

At these words, the blond gazed at the pack of cigarettes he was clutching in his hands. He had felt so stressed moments ago that he had wanted to take a break. Zoro was watching the cooking of the meat with Franky and he didn't have much left to do but the impending meal had overwhelmed him. He had then stuffed his pack of cigarettes in his pocket before heading to the infirmary to inform his captain of the smooth running of the evening. Yet he had paused when he was about to enter, surprised by the intensity of the conversation on the other side of the door.

"I don't know exactly what you talked about but from what I heard… I think your feelings scare him," he replied after a minute.

"You think so?" The straw hat boy wondered, "It's weird, I just told the truth!"

"You shouldn't tell him you love him that way, Luffy," his cook insisted softly, "Even if you don't realize it, to make such a direct declaration… It's brutal."

"Brutal?" His captain shook his head, visibly confused, and Sanji shook his own. "Nobody usually talks so openly about how they feel. These are very personal and intimate feelings. Some people will never talk about them in their whole life."

"I mean it so I don't see why I couldn't say it!" He persisted.

"I know you mean well but… It's not easy to feel loved for some people," the blond said, looking down. "Knowing that you provoke this kind of emotion in someone can be scary. Most people hope that the other will feel the same in return, and when they don't, it's painful."

"But I don't ask him anything," his captain mumbled, slumping on the railing with spite. "All I want is for us all to be together and eat the skewers…"

His cook cracked a smile and for a moment, he stared at the ocean whose waves shone under the last rays of the sun before looking back at the scowling figure at his side.

"Give him time to process. In this kind of situation, it's better not to insist, you'll only get him angrier. I'm sure he'll come back, Luffy. After all, no one can resist you for very long."

"Hmm okay…"

The straw hat boy squinted to survey the horizon and his cook couldn't resist the urge to cheer him up.

"As I wanted to tell you, I think the first skewers will be ready soon. You can give them to Hancock and then it'll be your turn."

"Awesome!"

Immediately, Luffy regained his full radiance and the blond watched him scurry off towards the barbecue, amused. For his part, he lit a cigarette and watched the sun set over the sea. The scene he had caught a glimpse of between the two captains still troubled him and he took a long drag on his cigarette butt, shivering when the fresh sea air rushed under his jacket.

When Chopper had told him a few weeks before that Law and him were rather similar and that for this reason, the other doctor might be able to help him, the blond had rejected his offer altogether. The cook was convinced that a tortured past in common wasn't enough for the surgeon to understand him, but in light of what he had seen, Sanji thought that maybe, their massacred childhood had distilled a poison in them. A poison that tainted all their relationships today, even the most beautiful ones.

And if Sanji was sure that it wasn't because he didn't feel the same that the other captain had pushed Luffy away earlier, it was because he had recognized that fear in his eyes. This fear was his fear. Law had reacted exactly the same way Sanji had when he had understood that Zoro was offering him more than a physical relationship as they headed towards Dressrosa. He had been scared. Just like him, Law had been scared and they had fled.

The blond blew his smoke skyward and watched it dissolve until it disappeared into the evening air above him. Sanji had seen himself in a mirror the moment the Heart captain had shouted at Luffy to leave him alone. Even if the blond hadn't needed to raise his voice to get the message across, his will had been the same at that moment. He had pushed Zoro away to prevent him from breaking through his defenses. To prevent him from shattering the universe he had built at the risk of his life.

Sanji had recognized this fear and for this reason, for the first time, he had felt true compassion towards the surgeon of death that had somehow extended to himself. Indeed, he of all people knew that despite its overwhelming presence, this fear didn't diminish the feelings he actually felt.

This is when I decided to add a serious part in the relationship between Law and Luffy. I initially intended to keep it light because of the dark atmosphere around Sanji and Zoro. In the end, I think the parallel between Sanji and Law is interesting to help them grow.

I hope you like it!